Summer winds signal new beginnings for Sturgis graduates

Thursday

Jun 12, 2008 at 2:00 AMJun 12, 2008 at 10:00 PM

If there was one word to describe the Sturgis Charter School Class of 2008, graduate Cody Mello found it.

David Stewart

If there was one word to describe the Sturgis Charter School Class of 2008, graduate Cody Mello found it. “If I had to express how I feel today, I would sum it up with one word; accomplished,” Mello said. On June 8, Sturgis Charter School honored the Class of 2008 at its seventh commencement at Aselton Park in Hyannis. Shortly before 2 o’clcokc on a breezy Cape afternoon the faculty and students filed slowly and happily from the school on Main Street to the park on the waterfront where they were greeted by family, friends, and former graduates. Eric Hieser, Sturgis’ executive director, began with words of praise. “I am very happy,” he said, “as these students have embraced the Sturgis mission, and at the same time, are very talented and diverse thinkers.” Fred Work, longstanding member of the board of trustees, recounted the struggles Sturgis encountered in its early years and how the school has since flourished. Referring to the school’s required charter renewal every five years, Work said the state asks, “One, is Sturgis fulfilling its mission? Two, Is Sturgis financially viable? I don’t think they mention ‘happy’ in their questions, and they should.” With a soothing spring breeze flowing beneath the graduation tent, The Sturgis Singers sang an a cappella rendition of Bill Withers’ classic “Lean on Me.” The wind and enthusiasm were high as Jane Sitarz, Sturgis’ music teacher, took her final bow. Graduation marked her last performance with Sturgis before moving on to new adventures. Eric Hillebrand and Peter Steedman, both history teachers at Sturgis, expressed gratitude to the class. “I am just humble to be part of the Sturgis legacy.” Hillebrand said. “You guys are ready! I’ve taught at many I.B. (International Baccalaureate) schools overseas, but you guys are amazing.” Steedman observed the tenacity and enthusiasm of the graduating class. “You guys live for the moment. It will be evident that your strength, laughter, and pure joy will help make things easier for future Sturgis students,” he said. “On my first day of school, I saw true evolution emerge within the school. Don’t think our evolution stops here today,” senior speaker Andrew Gillooly said. “Let’s make it our duty to make such opportunities, like the ones we have had at Sturgis, available to others,” senior speaker Ryan Perry said. “Through the International Baccalaureate, I realized that human enlightenment is not singular, it’s a trillion fold.” During the ceremony, Sara Furrer was named recipient of the 2008 Ryan King Memorial Award, for exemplifying ambition and personal strength during the course of four years at Sturgis. Then, with powerful emotions and endless rows of smiles, the 61 students received their diplomas and signed the school’s log signifying their four-year voyage was officially over. A Sturgis Milestone The graduation ceremony was perhaps more significant because just two days prior, the school celebrated its 10th anniversary in another ceremony on The Village Green in Hyannis. During a spirited celebration held June 6, a myriad of Sturgis’ strongest supporters offered recollections and praise for the school. Raye Kaddy, president of the Sturgis Board of Trustees, compared the school to its students. “Like you it is young. Like you it has gone through trials and tribulations,” she said. “There will be more, but we’ll come through them stronger and better.” Speaking about the school’s “turbulent history” during which it almost closed, graduate and new member of the alumni committee Julia Woiszwillow pointed to the school’s strength in the wake of such turbulence. “Never give up and always work for your passions,” she said. Sturgis, which recently achieved the second highest MCAS scores in the state, was listed as No. 43 on Newsweek’s list of the country’s Top 500 schools. “We knew we were involved in something unique, something special,” said Woiszwillow. “It was a place where many of us had our most formative experiences.” Kathleen Szmit contributed to this story Sturgis Class of 2008 Tachelle Allen Jesse K. Banta Caryn Beaty Ash Bell Cory Bell Cassandra R. Berry Ashley Bilbo Emily Boley Arthur Bosen Justin A. Bradshaw Aaron Dale Bryant Eileen Burdick Mathew Chamberlain Christian Champney Adam DeFelice Ashley DeFelice Alexandra Elizabeth DiCicco Chelsea B. Downing Brianna M. Eddy Janine Nicole Estes Daniel Faulkenberry Sarah Elizabeth Fogle Sara A. Furrer Andrew R. Gillooly Jesse B. Gilmore Lauren Marie Haley Evan Arthur Hall Rhodesia Jackson Lorelei Mariah Jackson Kyle S. Kiefer M. Connor Leahy Samantha Jean LeBoeuf Benjamin Ephraim Lieberman Meghan Bethany Lovett Sarah MacDonald Arianna Magee Ethan Mahoney Joseph McCrossin Cody Mello Jordan Meninno-Michaels Abraham Miller Elisabeth Moore Joseph G. Murphy Zachary Nastasi Kathryn R. Nidweski Liam Ohman Christopher Paine Giovanni Palmeri Ryan James Perry Meaghan Catherine Ryan Kaitlyn Sarazin Tanya Eileen Sargent Taylor Marie Seaward Daniel Thomas Stevenson Patrick Temple Brent Louis Thibodeau Chelsea Marisa Thompson Ashley Anne Thornton Rayven Lynda Tillman Seth Von Alt Justin Liam Warren

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